Again, James plays key role in finals

It is decision time. If it were a best-of-three, a best-of-five, or a best-of-seven, all the marbles now are up for grabs in their much-anticipated rematch. No more tomorrow. Everything must go. Garage sale. That’s the sum-total of the 2017 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors that begins on Friday ( June 2, Coach Dayong’s birthday-Cheers for Beers!).

It will be their third NBA title showdown in three straight years.

It will be a Dream Match dreamed by billions from Manila to Malta, from China to Chicago, from Buswanga to Brazil.

It will be a return bout between Stephen Curry of Golden State and LeBron James of Cleveland. Uh-oh, Curry versus James a bit of a mismatch?

For, to be blunt about it, it seems like James versus the entire Warrior crew is more like it. Curry needs his teammates—assist here, screen there—to ensure space for his bombs from afar.

But James can do things on his own—mostly.

While his offense spells destruction most of the time against enemies, his defense is also almost always a win-stopper.

Did not his block of a Warrior shot last year led to Cleveland’s Game 7 victory that paved the way for the Cavs’ first NBA title in 52 years?

So thoroughly devastating that defensive gem was it became the NBA “Play of The Year” in 2017.

With a title each the past two years, both squads, who were expected from Day One to battle anew for the most coveted basketball trophy in the world, break their deadlock in a war long predicted to materialize.

The Warriors won in 2015 and appeared headed for a repeat win when they sped imposingly ahead by 3-1 in the 2016 NBA championship.

Just one win in the last three games of the 2016 Finals was what the Warriors needed to seal a rare back-to-back title triumph. One win. Alas, it didn’t happen. Bizarrely, three successive losses befell on Golden State.

Mercifully, brutally, LeBron James scuttled them three straight times with his brute power and rascal finesse.

In so doing, James silenced Golden State’s Terrible Threesome of Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

But with prolific Kevin Durant now joining CTG (Curry- Thompson-Green), can James’ reign last?

Fasten your seatbelt.